December 2011 – Page 15 – NBA Blog

Grizzlies re-sign center Marc Gasol to multi-year contract

The Memphis Grizzlies have re-signed center Marc Gasol to a multi-year contract, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today. The deal is reportedly for four years, $57.7 million.

“We are very happy to re-sign Marc Gasol, who has been one of the pillars of the Grizzlies franchise since his arrival and a true ‘Memphis basketball player’ ever since his days at Lausanne,” Wallace said. “We are excited to keep him as part of our core group of players and to build on what this organization has already achieved for many years to come.”

Gasol (7-1, 265) posted 15.0 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.15 blocks in helping lead Memphis through a 13-game run through the 2011 NBA Playoffs, which included a first-round upset of the top-seeded San Antonio Spurs and a seven-game series with the Oklahoma City Thunder. The 26-year-old finished second in the league in rebounds per game and third in blocks per game during the postseason.

During the 2010-11 regular season, Gasol averaged 11.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, a career-high 2.5 assists and 1.68 blocks in 81 games (all starts). Teaming with Zach Randolph, Gasol helped Memphis pace the NBA in points in the paint (51.5) for the second consecutive season.

The Barcelona, Spain native holds career averages of 12.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.44 blocks in 32.7 minutes in 232 games (225 starts) over three seasons in Memphis after his draft rights (48th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft) were acquired in a package from the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for older brother Pau Gasol on Feb. 1, 2008. Memphis originally signed Marc on July 9, 2008.

Grizzlies waive guard Ish Smith

The Memphis Grizzlies waived guard Ish Smith, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.

Smith (6-0, 175) averaged 2.3 points, 1.1 rebounds and 1.8 assists on .374 shooting in 10.3 minutes in 43 total games (three starts) as a rookie last season with the Grizzlies and Houston Rockets.

The 23-year-old Wake Forest product posted 1.8 points and 1.0 assists in 7.5 minutes in 15 games with Memphis after being acquired on Feb. 24, 2011 from Houston.

Knicks hosting free open scrimmage Sunday

On Sunday, Dec. 18 the New York Knicks will open the doors of Madison Square Garden for an inside look at the team during the Knicks Orange & Blue Scrimmage.

This free event will give fans a chance to reconnect with the team and see Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler and their teammates go through a workout and scrimmage, as the Knicks prepare for the 2011-12 regular season that will tip off on Christmas Day at noon against the Boston Celtics at Madison Square Garden.

There will be performances by the Knicks City Dancers, Knicks City Kids and King Charles Unicycle Troupe, music from DJ Clue of Power 105.1 FM, and more.

Doors will open at 11 a.m. ET.

Note to fans: You’ll be watching Knicks players. You won’t be trying out.

Rafer Alston seeks NBA comeback

Veteran point guard Rafer Alston seemed done with the NBA, but has apparently had a change of heart and is looking to extend his pro career.

Alston’s agent and long-time friend Eddie Lau on Wednesday told InsideHoops.com editor Jeff Lenchiner that the guard, who last played in the NBA for the Miami Heat and New Jersey Nets in the 2009-10 season, wants to return to the league. Lau says he is in contact with multiple teams.

The 6-2, 175-pound Alston has an NBA career average of 10.1 points, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals per game.

Lately, he’s been coaching at the high school level.

Lakers sign forward Josh McRoberts

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed free agent forward Josh McRoberts, it was announced today. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not released.

McRoberts, a four-year NBA veteran, averaged career-highs in points (7.4), rebounds (5.3) and assists (2.1) while appearing in 72 games (51 starts) with the Indiana Pacers last season. In 155 career NBA games (54 starts), McRoberts is averaging 5.2 points on .525 shooting from the field, 3.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 15.7 minutes.

An early entry candidate for the 2007 NBA Draft following his sophomore season at Duke, McRoberts was originally selected by the Portland Trail Blazers with the seventh pick in the second round (37th overall) before being traded to the Pacers following his rookie year.

Recruited to Duke by Hall-of-Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski, McRoberts, the 2005 Morgan Wooten Award winner as McDonald’s High School All-American Player of the Year, was named to the All-ACC Freshman Team in 2006, the All-ACC Second Team in 2007 and became just the second Blue Devil in school history to be named team captain as a sophomore.

Lakers forward Derrick Caracter out at least 4-6 weeks after knee surgery

Lakers forward Derrick Caracter underwent successful surgery today to remove part of a torn lateral meniscus in his left knee, it was announced by the team.

The surgery, which took approximately 30 minutes, was performed by Lakers team physicians Dr. Steve Lombardo and Dr. Daniel Kharazzi at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. Caracter is expected to be out a minimum of 4-6 weeks.

Caracter suffered the injury during practice on Monday.

Selected by the Lakers in the second round (58th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft, Caracter appeared in 41 games for the Lakers last season, averaging 2.1 points and 1.0 rebounds in 5.2 minutes.

Nets rookie Jordan Williams suffering from severe dehydration

Rookie Jordan Williams is suffering from dehydration and will miss at least five days of practice, Nets coach Avery Johnson said. The 21-year-old Williams apparently succumbed after Tuesday’s practice, when he got ill after lunch. He spent this morning at the doctor’s office, getting intravenous fluids, Johnson said.

“He’s suffering from … severe dehydration, so he’s going to be out for a while,” Johnson said of Williams. “He’s had some issues in practice, in terms of breaking down, a little bit, so we’ve got to keep a close eye on him.”

— Reported by Colin Stephenson of the Newark Star-Ledger

Raptors sign Gary Forbes. Nuggets declined to match offer sheet

The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have signed forward Gary Forbes after the Denver Nuggets chose to not match Toronto’s offer sheet for the restricted free agent. It is reportedly a three-year deal, with a team option on the third year.

The Raptors signed Forbes to an offer sheet Saturday. Under the terms of the NBA’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement, beginning Sunday the Nuggets had three days to match the Raptors’ offer.

Forbes, 6-foot-7, 220 pounds, averaged 5.2 points, 1.8 rebounds and 12.6 minutes in 63 games during his rookie campaign last season with the Nuggets. He started 11 contests, where he averaged 9.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 22.8 minutes.

Forbes scored in double figures on 12 occasions, with a career-best 19 points at Phoenix on November 15, 2010. He also grabbed a season-best nine boards in the contest against the Suns. He had 15 points, six rebounds and two steals in a career high-tying 24 minutes December 10 in Toronto.

Forbes played his junior and senior seasons at the University of Massachusetts. He averaged 16.3 points per game in his two campaigns with the Minutemen, joining Julius Erving as the only players in school history to score more than 1,000 points over two seasons.

A native of Panama, Forbes scored 39 points to lead his country to a victory over Canada in this summer’s FIBA Americas Championship tournament.

Scottie Pippen suing media outlets over bankruptcy claims

Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen has filed a lawsuit against multiple media outlets, claiming they falsely reported that he went bankrupt.

The 46-year-old Pippen, who retired in 2004 with six NBA championships, said he has not been worth less than $40 million in the past 10 years.

A lawsuit filed in Illinois and obtained by TMZ on Tuesday states, “It is a most foul libel indeed to be falsely accused of being bankrupt.

— Reported by NewsCore

Russell Westbrook not worried about a new contract

Russell Westbrook transformed from the most turnover-prone player in the NBA into an All-Star who helped lead his team to the conference finals.

Heading into his fourth season, he has positioned himself for a big payday. It’s just not the center of his focus right now.

Westbrook would be a restricted free agent at the end of the season if he doesn’t reach a new deal, meaning the Thunder would still have the right to match any offer he gets from another team.

“It’s not a distraction at all,” Westbrook said Tuesday at the team’s media day. “I’m looking forward to this year and looking forward to big things out of my team and my teammates.”

Westbrook was a second-team all-NBA selection last season when averaged 21.9 points and 8.2 assists—both good enough to place him in the top 15 in the league. He still was worst in the NBA with 3.9 turnovers per game, but all his positive plays overshadowed the negative.

“We love what Russell brings us. He’s a tough point guard. He’s one of the best in the league,” coach Scott Brooks said.

— Reported by the Associated Press